Critical currents of greatly disturbed filament conductors

The importance of greatly deformed superconductors or conductors which in some other way are intensely disturbed with respect to their metallurgical structure has much increased during the last years. An investigation of the physical characteristics of such materials has, therefore, been conducted. The superconducting properties of NbTi are considered along with pinning theories, aspects of defect generation involving low-temperature neutron irradiation, and stability problems concerning superconductors with high critical current densities. Experiments conducted with NbTi filaments are also discussed, taking into account sample preparation, measurement methods, and the irradiation equipment used. Attention is given to the effect of heat treatment and neutron irradiation on the critical current density in the NbTi filaments.